

50 years -- not done yet
Fifty years. Not a birthday. Fifty years of marriage. When Tim´s parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, fifty years seemed like a very, very long time to be together. And it felt very far into our own future. But we blinked, and now Tim and I now find ourselves at this milestone. Today, fifty years of marriage feels more like a mid-point, as if we will have another fifty years together. (Yes, you may laugh.) How could we two babies have guessed what was in our
37 minutes ago2 min read


Finding Peace in the Dark
In dark times we must seek light and amplify good. Hug your friends. Make music. Laugh a lot. Walk in nature. Be silly. Be weird. Be fierce. Be generous. Be kind. In that spirit, we want to share some photos from a recent walk. Below the photos, writer Kelly Hayes-Raitt offers a brief story from her life in Portugal to give you a chuckle. Laughter brings more light to the world. Keep laughing. nature heals us precious life shifting shapes of nature solace at the beach Lost
Apr 91 min read


Chatting with the Dentist
I look forward to going to the dentist -- truly. Cleanings are never pleasant, but I enjoy talking with our dentist, Dr. Ricardo Coutinho, who enjoys discussing social norms, economics, and international politics. Like most medical professionals in Portugal, he speaks fluent English, which makes conversation easy for me. Dr. Ricardo does our six-month cleanings himself. Although a hygienist typically handles them after the first visit, I suspect he keeps us on his schedule be
Mar 172 min read


Bomb Cyclone and Scorpion’s Tail
Category 3 hurricane winds hit close to home A few days ago, our region of Portugal was hit by a Bomb Cyclone 1 ( explosive cyclogenesis ) that was accompanied by a S corpion’s Tail . 2 This extreme weather event brought winds up to 202 km/h (120 mph) in the early morning hours of January 29, leaving a trail of destruction and heartache. Hurricane-force winds ripped off roofs, destroyed aircraft, downed power lines, ruined homes and cars, and ended lives. This video s
Jan 314 min read



